The jerrycans looked sturdy. Since power distribution company (DISCO) in her area had been playing games with power supply, water has become scarce. Residents now store water in every available container. Power supply means water supply. If there is power interruption for two days, water becomes scarce.
Although Chioma had containers, she needed more to meet the needs of her family. The stored water was for drinking, cooking, washing and bathing. The jerrycans were used ones.
They were, however, cheaper than new ones. People claimed that the used gallons last longer than the new ones. When she got home, she used hot water and detergent to wash the two jerrycans.
She did not know the jerrycans had earlier been used to store methamphetamine (Meth), a deadly drug that causes cancer and other terminal illnesses. Today, Chioma and members of her household are suffering from terminal illnesses.
They could not fathom the source or cause of their illnesses. Head, Forensic Unit and Chemical Monitoring of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs. Margaret Ogundipe, begged Nigerians to stop buying used jerrycans since nobody knew what they had been used for before being taken to the market.
According to her, Chioma’s case was a classic example of a woman who innocently bought a jerrycan, used in storing Meth, a deadly, illicit drug.
The drug is often produced in secret laboratories. Perhaps the most worrisome, according to Ogundipe, is the fact that buildings/apartments used in productions of Meth are deadly to anyone who later lives in the apartment or within areas where Meth labs are situated.
According to experts, Meth is a central nervous system stimulant drug. Due to its high potential for abuse, methamphetamine is available only through a prescription that cannot be refilled.
According to NDLEA, the drug is hazardous to producers, workers in the laboratories and people living within and around the environment where the labs are situated. It can cause cancer, hallucinations and delusions, among other diseases.
The agency cautioned that houses used for methamphetamine production should be avoided while chemical containers must not be used for domestic purposes. “We urge Nigerians to be vigilant and report suspected cases to the agency. People seeking accommodation are advised to investigate the history of an apartment or building before moving in, so as to prevent health problems of houses used in Meth production.
“Adequate funds are required to detect laboratories, provide protective kits and decontaminate the production site. Major body organs can be damaged through exposure to poisonous gases and chemicals.
The estimated cost of cleaning this laboratory is about N35 million,” Ogundipe added. NDLEA has been battling with Nigerian barons and traffickers for long. But today, the war has taken a new dimension, with expatriates now joining forces with unscrupulous Nigerians to vanquish, not just NDLEA, but Nigeria.
A good number of foreigners, who come into Nigeria, under the guise of ‘expatriate workers,’ have been discovered, actually come into the country to produce Meth.
In fact, some of them come into the country with fake identities. They cook harmful meals for Nigerians. A methamphetamine laboratory can be identified by its secret operations. It can be detected by irritation caused by chemicals, smell of chemicals and coloured water on sewage.
The NDLEA spokesman, Mitch ell Ofoyeju, said: “Meth comes in the form of a crystalline white powder that is odourless, bitter-tasting and dissolves easily in water or alcohol. Other colours include brown, yellowgrey, orange and even pink. “Crystal Meth also comes in clear chunky crystals resembling ice. Some of the street names are Meth, Crank, Crystal, Crystal Meth, Ice and Speed to mention a few. Meth can be abused like other illicit drugs.
It is mainly smoked and can be snorted or injected.” Recently, NDLEA arrested four expatriates and four Nigerians in connection with the operation of a super Meth laboratory.
The NDLEA Chairman, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (rtd), said the expatriates were Mexicans. It was not the first time foreigners have been arrested in connection with running Meth laboratory. Before the arrest of these Mexicans, some Bolivians had been arrested.
The illicit laboratory was busted by NDLEA. The suspects were arrested before they could complete a full circle of 4,000 kilograms, which street value would have been over N2 billion. The super laboratory, located in Delta State, would make it the 11th known Meth production laboratory the agency had discovered. It is, however, the first of its kind in the country.
The Nigerian suspects are joint owners of the laboratory, while the four Mexicans are Meth production experts hired as technical partners.
The Nigerian suspects are Chief Chibi Aruh, William Agusi, Umolu Kosisochukwu and Umolu Ckukwemeka. The Mexicans are Cervantos Madrid Jose Bruno, Rivas Ruiz Pastiano, Castillo Barraza Cristobal and Partida Gonzalez Pedro.
Interestingly, all the Nigerian suspects denied involvement, while the Mexicans claimed they couldn’t speak or understand English Language. Abdallah described the operation as technical undercover assignment, leading to the dismantling of a drug trafficking organisation. He said: “In a technical undercover operation, four Mexicans were arrested in active production exercise inside the super laboratory.
The cartel first brought two Mexican methamphetamine experts, Cervantos Madrid Jose Bruno and Rivas Ruiz Pastiano to Nigeria but because of the size of the laboratory coupled with the volume of work, two additional Mexicans, Castillo Barraza Cristobal and Partida Gonzalez Pedro were added.
Our investigation revealed that a successful test production was done at the laboratory in February 2016. “This super Meth laboratory, similar to the ones found in Mexico, is the first to be discovered in the country. The laboratory has a capacity of producing between 3,000kg and 4,000kg of Meth per production cycle.
A significant feature of this laboratory is that the production process is more technical and sophisticated because it uses the synthesis method of Meth production. All the principal actors linked to this illicit act were apprehended in a simultaneous raid on members of the drug syndicate in Lagos, Obosi in Anambra State and at the laboratory in Asaba, Delta State.”
Abdallah said that the laboratory was raided while the second production cycle was ongoing. Items recovered at the laboratory included 1.5kg of finished methamphetamine and 750 litres of liquid methamphetamine. Other items found in the laboratory included industrial pressure pots, gas cylinders, gas burners, facial masks and numerous chemicals. Also recovered were Toyota Tundra, Mercedes Benz Jeep ML and a Toyota Corolla car. In 2014, NDLEA uncovered three Meth production factories.
The operatives were stunned when they discovered that a Colombian drug Kingpin, Mr. Gonzelo Osorio, who specialised in the construction of Meth production in Nigeria, was working for a Nigerian. Osorio was invited to Nigeria by a Nigerian drug baron.
The baron paid him a whooping N24 million monthly to assist in building a laboratory solely for the production of Meth. NDLEA expressed shock at the amount of money barons were willing to sink into projects that were harmful to Nigerians. “Our investigation had shown that the Colombian Meth production expert, Gonzelo Osorio aka Fabian Arcila and Baez Benitez Milan was invited to establish three clandestine laboratories on a 38,000 dollars weekly contract.
This is sad and worrisome,” the NDLEA spokesman added. In 2014, seven members of syndicate were arrested. The suspects are Gonzelo Osorio, Gabriel Onyebuchi Obi, Anthony Ebi, Olisa Cyprian Onyebuchukwu, Mickey Ezeokoli, Solomon Ogbonna and Chidi Alexandra Efeagwazi. Twelve vehicles belonging to suspected members of the cartel were confiscated. Four houses were traced to the syndicate.
In November 2011, Osorio was contracted by a Nigerian drug syndicate to establish three Meth production laboratories in different parts of the country. The operation was one of the best coordinated in terms of duration, expertise and professionalism. The first clandestine laboratory Osorio established was situated at Majek area of Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, while another one was located at Nanka village in Nnewi area of Anambra State.
The gang was in the process of establishing the third laboratory when they were arrested by NDLEA officers. Osorio left the country in December 2011 and returned on May 30, 2012, with a false identity as a citizen of Paraguay with the name Baez Benitez Milan on his travel documents.
He is regarded as the best Meth production expert in the country and was hired on $38,000 weekly by the drug cartel. The first clandestine laboratory was discovered in June 2011 in Lagos. The second laboratory was also discovered in Lagos and had engagement of foreigners. The foreigners were three Bolivian expatriates.
They were in charge of running the laboratory. In all, five production factories were discovered in 2011. It is worthy to note that everywhere a Meth lab is situated; sickness and death envelop the area.
Residents in the area are living on a time bomb. Abdallah noted that the threat posed by this laboratory was disturbing because mass production would make the drug easily available, thereby increasing the rate of abuse.
He added: “More citizens will equally be targeted by drug cartels that are searching for drug mules to smuggle drugs outside the country. This has the tendency to increase the number of Nigerians in foreign prisons thereby affecting the image of our country. “Meth labs pose a serious threat to humanity because of the toxic nature of chemicals used.
Meth dump pollutes the environment. This is because for every one pound of Meth produced, about three to six pounds of toxic waste is created. This can contaminate the water table within 500 metres radius from the laboratory. Even plants close to the dump were found to be dead.
The lab contains highly poisonous solvents and gases. Some are pyrophoric in nature, capable of explosion; other chemicals are carcinogenic, capable of causing cancer, while some are highly combustible and corrosive.”
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to work with the relevant agencies like the Ministry of Health and environmental protection in enhancing public health and safety. There is no doubt that one of the ways to checkmate further construction of Meth labs is in checking the entry of foreigners into Nigeria.
Ofoyeju has this to say on that: “NDLEA has never minced words when it comes to partnering to win the fight against drug trafficking syndicates. Immigration will help in ensuring that immigration legislation is enforced.
This covers the rules of entry for visa applicants, foreign nationals or those seeking asylum at the border, detecting and apprehending those that have breached the border and removing them, or pursuing those in breach of immigration and criminal laws. On the other hand, the judiciary will help with stiffer penalty and speedy trials.
“There are a number of foreigners the agency had convicted. The recent and celebrated case is that involving the importation of 450kg of cocaine into the country by a 54-year-old Taiwanese, Fong Chui Sen, and a Chinese, Richard Wang (62). They were convicted in July 22, 2010 to 15 years each.” Reverting to the Meth case, he said: “The cases are ongoing but rather slow and speedy trial will go a long way in promoting the dispensation of justice.”
Meth labs discovered in Nigeria
In June 2011, the first laboratory with a capacity of between 20kg and 50kg per production cycle was detected at Iyana- Ipaja-Igando Road, Monkey village, Lagos.
Polycap Ndolobi and Bernard Umezurike were arrested. In February 2012, at New Road, Satellite Town, Daily Times Estate, Lagos, the second laboratory with 25kg capacity was detected. Basil Azoka Uzok, Solomon Ikechukwu, Uba Ubachukwu Collins & three Bolivians – Yerko Autunduaga, Reuben Tacoma George and Hugo Chavez – were arrested.
At Ajah, Lagos in November 2012, another laboratory with 20kg capacity was detected and Olisa Cyprian Onyebuchukwu and Tony Ebi were apprehended. A week later, another 20kg capacity laboratory was detected at Jakande Estate, Lagos and one Augustine Umeodiegwu was arrested.
Also in November 2012 at Nanka village, Anambra State a methamphetamine laboratory with 20kg capacity was discovered where Michael Ezeokoye aka Mickey was arrested.
Again at Ajah, Lagos, one Michael Anum was apprehended in October 2013 while three labs were discovered in Anambra State where Chukwunwendu Sylvester Ikejiakwu was arrested.
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